Sinn Fein TD Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has said that the inclusion of
proposals to seek the banning of political donations from outside
the 26 Counties meant that the package of measures announced by
the Taoiseach was ``deeply flawed''. Deputy Ó Caoláin said:

``Speaking on RTÉ radio today An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern suggested
that the President of Sinn Fein Gerry Adams had not been
following the debate on party funding in this jurisdiction. As
someone who was directly involved in the debate and who fully
briefed my party on it I share Gerry Adams' anger at the
government's approach and his view that the attempted restriction
of donations >from outside this State is a piece of political
opportunism aimed at SinnFein.

``Proposals to restrict donations to registered voters in the 26
Counties were contained in the Labour Party Bill which was
debated in the Dáil in May. At that time I supported a government
amendment on the basis that there would be a process of
consultation with all the parties, including Sinn Fein, on the
issue of donations to political parties. No such process of
consultation has taken place.

``As I stated in the Dáil I am in favour of ending corporate
donations to political parties. While the Taoiseach's statement
contains no proposal to end corporate donations - companies are
to be allowed to give up to £20,000 in one year to a political
party - it does propose banning donations from outside the State,
no matter how small. This discriminates against Irish citizens
and is specifically aimed at Sinn Fein, the only All-Ireland
party. Despite such moves I am confident that the growth in
support for Sinn Fein will continue unabated.''